Abstract
Based on the principles of Mendelian inheritance, efforts were made to estimate the general and specific combining abilities of genotypes that may foster selection of promising recombinants for future breeding programme. For the purpose, a complete diallel cross between wheat varieties viz; TD-1, SKD-1, IMDAD, KHIRMAN, MOOMAL and H68 was made using Randomized Complete Block Design in four replications at Botanical Garden, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam during 2009. Data was recorded for plant height, spikes plant-1 , tillers plant-1 , spike length, spikelets spike-1 , grains spike-1 ,weight of grains spike -1 , grain yield plant-1 and 1000-grains weight. The results of GCA showed that the varieties Moomal and Khirman proved best general combiners for all the traits under study. In the F1 generation the cross SKD-1 x Khirman secured highest SCA value for grain yield plant-1 , grains spike-1 , spikelets spike-1 and tillers plant-1 . While reciprocal cross, Khirman x TD-1 in F1 obtained highest SCA value for grain yield plant-1 , 1000-grains weight, grains spike-1 , spike length and spikes plant -1 .
